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Group-B-Rallye

The region around Lake Zell in Austria was the scenery of the mountain race for the Group-B-rallye legends in this year. The starting line was located 800 m above sea level and the riders had to complete a distance of 12.5 km and 1200 metres of altitude with their racing cars. For the first time three Group S prototypes were at the start this year, which created great enthusiasm among the spectators, because in the afternoon before the official start, all racing cars stood on the main square in Saalfelden. There was a carnival atmosphere. Racing cars by Lancia, Toyota, Audi, Skoda, Vauxhall and Opel stood side by side and there was plenty of time to talk with the drivers. The launching vehicles were moderated by Anneliese Abarth, rally legend Giuseppe „Beppe“ Volta and Ernst Kopp from Toyota.
But the mountain race was only one of the four individual stages. The drivers had to complete another three stages, including the highlight – „the Night of Thunder“, a night race. Some 8,000 spectators gathered along the route to marvel at the glowing brake discs and fire-spitting tailpipes of the turbo-charged racing cars. The event celebrated the 40 years anniversary of rallying. Rally fans came in this event fully at their own expense, because the organizers put the closed roads for the race so, that viewers could reach almost reach every part of the route.